The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-12

participation in politics, lie carries all his
serenity and cheerfulneSS into the bosom of
his family. No man is more thoroughly
married than he. He clingS to the hearth
stone, seldom quitting Staten Island, near
New York, over which he roams for exer-
else, and loving his pleasant abode near West
New Brighton better than any spot ON earth.
1t is impossible TO imagine HIM having any
differences or discordS with wife or children
Under his roof there are no clouds; all is
sunshine-the sunshine of the heart
Thomas W. Higginson, who has been
preacher, soldier, politician, lecturer and
author, has been most exemplary husband.
HIS first wife was Miss Mary E. Claiming.
daughter of DR.. Walter Charming, of Bos-
ton. During the greater part of her married
lie she was confirmed invalid, being
unable to move or sit up, and losing in time
her natural proportions. Her brilliant
mind, however, was entirely unaffected her
rallies of wit entertained her husband and
friends for years. He was always con-
tinually with her when at leisure; he took
care OF her as if she had been a child; adj
ministereG to her wants, read to her, and
interpreted to her whatever he saw or heard
of the outside world. 1t was chivalrous
conservation, for he was, and is still
at 90, in the enjoyment of robust
health, and fond of athletic exercises. No
man has ever more completely subordinated
himself to woman through sympathy and
love. After her death he married a Younger
woman, and has become the father of two
children only one of whom survives. He
seems, 1T is said, like young man in his
satisfaction with his loved ones at home
Deeply as he is interested in letters and
everything that appertains to them he never
permits these to draw him from the nearer
and dearer ties of home. A prime favorite
with nice women, and enjoying their society
IyAar w lasak 1.
from domesticity. He is a fine type of genu-
inc American chivalry.
James Parton, the famous biographer, is
such lover of domestic tranquility that he
left New York, where he had lived since
boyhood, to settle permanently at Newbury-
port, one of the quietest towns In Massachu-
sets or in all New England. Most literary
men find it very hard after having been in
New York any time, to deprive themselves
of metropolitan designations, pleasures and
excitements But Parton had grown tired
of them, and was anxious to isolate himself
at the antipodes of the roaring capital
There he has his pleasant home, his wife,
his children; he can do his routine contri-
buttons to the Youths Companion and the
New York Ledger and such other and
higher work as he chooses. Without
ostentation of every sort, he is at
tached to his friends and likes to entertain
them. He is liberal philosopher, profound
ly interested in humanity, and earnestly de-
sirous to aid the cause of progress Partons
first wife was Fanny Fern, nearly eleven
years his senior, an estimable and clever but
unbalanced woman, rendered bitter by her
experience of the world after her widow
hood and her sudden change from independ-
ence to poverty. She tried to earn her bread
by teaching, sewing, embroidering-to no
purpose. At last she wrote for print; but
not publisher in Boston would take her
articles She was in despair, when one
editor printed sketch and paid SOC. for it,
1t struck the popular fancy; she
sprang into demand, and in less
than two years her first volume of "Fern
Leaves" mainly composed of her news
paper contributions, sold to the extent of
s., 900 copies The tide had turned and she
found ready purchasers for whatever she
chose to write. After her death Parton
married her daughter Ia far filter mate for
HIM, who took care of her little niece, the
child of Mortimer Thompson Doesticks.l
who had gone to the bad generally. Parton
had adopted the child, and was, after
awhile, drawn to Miss Eldredge, as she was
member of his household. 1t is so unusual
for a man to wed the daughter of his wife
that the fact caused much surprise and
elected wide comment But under the pc
culiar circumstances it was not so unnatural
as it might seem. Parton has done the bulk
of his work. His "Voltaire" was its crown
he spent twenty years on it--and his
health is too delicate to warrant him in
undertaking any more heavy tasks.
His domesticity remains, however, a steady
source of comfort, encouragement and Joy
Richard Henry Stoddard and Elizabeth
his wife, are both literary, both poets, both
independent thinkers; and yet few couples
of the most commonplace order get greater
satisfaction from marriage. Having their
own opinions and theories they often present
and discuss these with ardor and ability, as
if each were the leader of a debating club
They are intellectual and social equals, and
their reasoning for and against some partic-
ular question is often interesting and profit
able to listen to. They are about the same
age, and have been married nearly thirty
five years, all of which they have passed in
New York, though both are natives
Of Massachusetts-he of bingham,
she of Mattapoisett Only one of
several children, son grown to
mans estate, survives. Mrs. Stoddard is
devoted mother and still mourns for the
loved and lost. Her mental endowments
have not been appreciated, save by few.
Her three remarkable novels, "The Norge
sons" Two Men," and Temple House."
published twenty and twenty-five years ago,
have had so small sale as to give her moth
ing. They have long been out of print, and
would no doubt be read by great many
were they reissued, as they deserve to be.
According to the vulgar notion the Stod-
dards, being deeply inky, strong-willed, self
assertive, should be perpetually wrangling.
But, according to the fact, they are close
companions and the best of friends, which
cannot be said of many pairs.
Another literary brace who have not
agreed-to show both sides of the connubial
question-is Joaquin Miller and Minnie The
resa Miller. She wrote verses, adopting the
pseudonym Minnie Myrtle, as well as he;
but hers gained no celebrity. He married
her, he says, at -, and eight years after she
obtained divorce, when lie went to Europe.
He declares that she had no cause for such
step: but she maintains that she had abun-
dant cause. 1t is probable that she had.
He seems to be the kind of man who would
be likely to justify woman in leaving him,
Judging by his own statements, which al'9,
however, not always the most trustworthy,
His former wife called him pretender,
humbug and other hard names, which, if
true. would make him an unpleasant COM
panion. He is not without gifts, but his
gasconade and affectation tax ones pa
thence.
Too Much Industry.
From, Washington Letter to the Baltimore SIN.